Daily Sitka Sentinel

A total of 11 players from the two local high schools received all-conference honors for their play during the 3A Southeast basketball season. The all-conference squads were based on a vote by Southeast coaches that occurred during the recently completed Region V tournament in Ketchikan. On the boys side, seniors Devan Romine, Bae Widmier and Mik Potrzuski were selected from Sitka High. Senior Jaylin Prince made the team for Mt. Edgecumbe, as did juniors Kacy Green and Dominique Hall. The Sitka High Wolves were a dangerous offensive team during the Southeast season, with all five starters taking a turn leading the team in scoring. But most often, the points came from Potrzuski, Romine or Widmier. Romine, a natural slasher, took over point guard duties for SHS this season. He can shoot from the outside and get to the rim with drives to the lane. He’s also a capable perimeter defender. Widmier recorded a double-double for SHS more often than not. He’s been the team’s leading rebounder and typically records double digit point totals with buckets in the paint. Potrzuski can play inside and outside. He’s a dangerous outside shooter and a strong ballhandler who can score in the key. The Mt. Edgecumbe trio on the All-Conference team did a little bit of everything for the Braves this season. Prince, a three-time state champion wrestler at 285 pounds, is listed at 5’9’’, but plays much bigger, using the strength and leverage that served him well on the wrestling mats to establish a post presence for MEHS. He also has good shooting touch and can finish in the paint. Hall is a long, athletic player with shooting touch, while Green became a steady point guard for MEHS this season. Green might be the most improved player in Southeast. He didn’t play much varsity basketball last season, but became the Braves floor general in 2011-12. Green directs the offense and showed some scoring ability this season, typically on hard drives to the rim. On the girls side, seniors Sariah Ady, Hunter Huddlestun and Katina Wathen made all-conference, while Brandi Hale and Taryn White were picked to represent Mt. Edgecumbe. Ady has drawn more and more defensive attention as her SHS career has progressed. But she still gets her points. She’s tall and long and always figures prominently in Sitka’s offensive game plan. Ady usually leads the Lady Wolves in rebounding and is an inside presence defensively for SHS. Huddlestun and Wathen are steady hands in the backcourt for coach Rich Krupa’s team. Both are strong ballhandlers and good passers who can score when the opportunity presents itself. During the Region V tournament, MEHS coach Carl Blackhurst called Hale is smartest player and hardest worker. He said he wanted the ball in Hale’s hands at the end of a tight game, which is probably the highest compliment a coach can pay a player. A good outside shooter and point guard, Hale will be tough for Blackhurst to replace. White, a freshman, was Edgecumbe’s best rebounder this season and showed the ability to score in the post.Boys 3A All-ConferenceTaylor Pullar (Petersburg), D.J. Almenzor (Craig), Erik Hudson (Metlakatla), Tadd Yliniemi (Metlakatla), Tyler Swinton (Haines), Clayton Stokes (Wrangell), Kacy Green (MEHS), Dominique Hall (MEHS), Jaylin Prince (MEHS), Bae Widmier (SHS), Mik Potrzuski (SHS), Devan Romine (SHS).Girls 3A All-ConferenceMelissa Castle (Craig), Maggie Dinon (Craig), Carolyn Kvernvick (Petersburg), Emily Luczak (Petersburg), Sariah Ady (SHS), Katina Wathen (SHS), Hunter Huddlestun (SHS), Hannah Wing (Haines), Loni Bunness (Wrangell), Brandi Hale (MEHS), Taryn White (MEHS), Theresa Wellington-McGilton (Metlakatla).Boys 4A All-Conference Ben Jahn (Thunder Mtn.), Tony Yadao (JDHS), Lance Ibesate (JDHS), Alec Calloway (JDHS), Kyle Day (Kayhi), Travis Taylor (Kayhi).Girls 4A All-ConferenceGabi Fenumiai (JDHS), Marissa Brakes (JDHS), Esra Siddeek (JDHS), Jayley Taylor (Kayhi), Melissa Elliott (Kayhi), Jonelle Staveland (Thunder Mtn.).Other Region V Notes The Mt. Edgecumbe Lady Braves cheerleaders finished second in the 3A Region V competition. Kristina Gibson got all-tournament honors for MEHS. The JDHS girls won the 4A title. The Sitka High pep band sets a high bar in the region and the group from SHS was outstanding once again at the Region V tournament. Band director John DePalatis always comes up with somewhat unlikely song choices, like Justin Bieber’s “Baby” and “Blister in the Sun,” by the Violent Femmes, which were both staples for the SHS band this season. DePalatis also had his students playing a song by Lady Gaga throughout the season. Mt. Edgecumbe fielded a pep band for the first time in many years this season, and the group, which is more of a rock band, was a hit at the Region V tournament. MEHS hired Stephen Courtright as a full-time music teacher before the 2010-11 school year. Courtright revived the music program at the Japonski Island school. The MEHS band was small, but generated buzz in Ketchikan with their electric guitars, ukuele and vocals. Courtright played trombone with the group. The band performed songs like “99 Red Balloons,” “Sexy and I Know It” and “Crazy Train.” MEHS students Michael Matthew, Douglas McClenahan, Saraya Coburn and Joseph Kingeekuk provided vocals for the band. A performance of “Bad to the Bone,” with drummer Douglas McClenahan providing vocals (and apparently reading the lyrics on his iPhone) was a highlight for the new MEHS band.

On the boys side, seniors Devan Romine, Bae Widmier and Mik Potrzuski were selected from Sitka High. Senior Jaylin Prince made the team for Mt. Edgecumbe, as did juniors Kacy Green and Dominique Hall. The Sitka High Wolves were a dangerous offensive team during the Southeast season, with all five starters taking a turn leading the team in scoring. But most often, the points came from Potrzuski, Romine or Widmier. Romine, a natural slasher, took over point guard duties for SHS this season. He can shoot from the outside and get to the rim with drives to the lane. He’s also a capable perimeter defender. Widmier recorded a double-double for SHS more often than not. He’s been the team’s leading rebounder and typically records double digit point totals with buckets in the paint. Potrzuski can play inside and outside. He’s a dangerous outside shooter and a strong ballhandler who can score in the key. The Mt. Edgecumbe trio on the All-Conference team did a little bit of everything for the Braves this season. Prince, a three-time state champion wrestler at 285 pounds, is listed at 5’9’’, but plays much bigger, using the strength and leverage that served him well on the wrestling mats to establish a post presence for MEHS. He also has good shooting touch and can finish in the paint. Hall is a long, athletic player with shooting touch, while Green became a steady point guard for MEHS this season. Green might be the most improved player in Southeast. He didn’t play much varsity basketball last season, but became the Braves floor general in 2011-12. Green directs the offense and showed some scoring ability this season, typically on hard drives to the rim. On the girls side, seniors Sariah Ady, Hunter Huddlestun and Katina Wathen made all-conference, while Brandi Hale and Taryn White were picked to represent Mt. Edgecumbe. Ady has drawn more and more defensive attention as her SHS career has progressed. But she still gets her points. She’s tall and long and always figures prominently in Sitka’s offensive game plan. Ady usually leads the Lady Wolves in rebounding and is an inside presence defensively for SHS. Huddlestun and Wathen are steady hands in the backcourt for coach Rich Krupa’s team. Both are strong ballhandlers and good passers who can score when the opportunity presents itself. During the Region V tournament, MEHS coach Carl Blackhurst called Hale is smartest player and hardest worker. He said he wanted the ball in Hale’s hands at the end of a tight game, which is probably the highest compliment a coach can pay a player. A good outside shooter and point guard, Hale will be tough for Blackhurst to replace. White, a freshman, was Edgecumbe’s best rebounder this season and showed the ability to score in the post.Boys 3A All-ConferenceTaylor Pullar (Petersburg), D.J. Almenzor (Craig), Erik Hudson (Metlakatla), Tadd Yliniemi (Metlakatla), Tyler Swinton (Haines), Clayton Stokes (Wrangell), Kacy Green (MEHS), Dominique Hall (MEHS), Jaylin Prince (MEHS), Bae Widmier (SHS), Mik Potrzuski (SHS), Devan Romine (SHS).Girls 3A All-ConferenceMelissa Castle (Craig), Maggie Dinon (Craig), Carolyn Kvernvick (Petersburg), Emily Luczak (Petersburg), Sariah Ady (SHS), Katina Wathen (SHS), Hunter Huddlestun (SHS), Hannah Wing (Haines), Loni Bunness (Wrangell), Brandi Hale (MEHS), Taryn White (MEHS), Theresa Wellington-McGilton (Metlakatla).Boys 4A All-Conference Ben Jahn (Thunder Mtn.), Tony Yadao (JDHS), Lance Ibesate (JDHS), Alec Calloway (JDHS), Kyle Day (Kayhi), Travis Taylor (Kayhi).Girls 4A All-ConferenceGabi Fenumiai (JDHS), Marissa Brakes (JDHS), Esra Siddeek (JDHS), Jayley Taylor (Kayhi), Melissa Elliott (Kayhi), Jonelle Staveland (Thunder Mtn.).Other Region V Notes The Mt. Edgecumbe Lady Braves cheerleaders finished second in the 3A Region V competition. Kristina Gibson got all-tournament honors for MEHS. The JDHS girls won the 4A title. The Sitka High pep band sets a high bar in the region and the group from SHS was outstanding once again at the Region V tournament. Band director John DePalatis always comes up with somewhat unlikely song choices, like Justin Bieber’s “Baby” and “Blister in the Sun,” by the Violent Femmes, which were both staples for the SHS band this season. DePalatis also had his students playing a song by Lady Gaga throughout the season. Mt. Edgecumbe fielded a pep band for the first time in many years this season, and the group, which is more of a rock band, was a hit at the Region V tournament. MEHS hired Stephen Courtright as a full-time music teacher before the 2010-11 school year. Courtright revived the music program at the Japonski Island school. The MEHS band was small, but generated buzz in Ketchikan with their electric guitars, ukuele and vocals. Courtright played trombone with the group. The band performed songs like “99 Red Balloons,” “Sexy and I Know It” and “Crazy Train.” MEHS students Michael Matthew, Douglas McClenahan, Saraya Coburn and Joseph Kingeekuk provided vocals for the band. A performance of “Bad to the Bone,” with drummer Douglas McClenahan providing vocals (and apparently reading the lyrics on his iPhone) was a highlight for the new MEHS band.